Page 75 of Salvatore
Seeing her peel the yellow Starburst, Valerie generously didn’t take it from her but eyed the rest of the bag. She thought about getting up and taking a new bag for herself, but one glance at the trash can, she stopped herself. She already owed a huge tab on what she’d already eaten, and she had been wanting that bag of Skittles.
“Does he have a girlfriend?” the girl sheepishly mumbled.
It was a question Valerie had to ask many times herself about Sal. Smiling to herself, she didn’t blame the girl, having been in the same predicament herself just a short time ago. But knowledge came at a price … “You got more orange Starbursts?”
Digging in the bag, Winnie held out five.
Damn, she liked this girl.
“You have a serious sugar addition,” Winnie told her with slight concern on her face.
“Tell me about it.” Taking the candy away, Valerie started peeling the wrappers. “What I really want is my vape. Candy replaces the urge.”
“You could replace the urge with healthy alternatives, like celery or carrot sticks,” Winnie offered helpfully.
“I’m using a three-step process to quit. I’m using candy to get over the urge to vape, then when I have that beat, I’ll switch to healthy alternatives.”
Winnie watched her open the last Starburst curiously. “How long has it been since you stopped vaping?”
“A while…”she finally choked out, too embarrassed to put a number on it.
“I think I’d ditch the three-step process. You’re stuck on step two.”
“You’re right. I need to give serious thought about what my next step should be,” Valerie agreed with her newfound friend, swallowing. “You got any more red ones?”
Winnie held out the bag. “Here; you can have the bag.”
Smiling, she wiggled her brows at her. “Since you’re being so generous, I’ll ask around about Amo just for you.”
Suddenly, the bag was snatched right back out of her hands. “Don’t. I was just being curious. If you ask, then they could assume I like him. I’ddieif that happens.”
“I don’t think you’d die …” Valerie retorted when a broad-shouldered man came through the doors.
Jumping off the stool, she shimmied up to the cash register, giving Winnie a wink. “I got you, girl.”
“Valerie, please don’t embarrass me!” Winnie hissed from beside her, trying to shove her out of the way.
Elbowing her back, Valerie shot her a warning glance, pointing at the stool. “Sit.”
Pivoting back, she saw Amo coming to the counter and played it cool. “How’s it going, Amo?”
“Good.”
Valerie started ringing up the pack of gum, chips, and two Gatorades, like she had done it a million times before. Welp, there went trying to get out of ringing up the next five customers. “Feeling dehydrated?”
Amo didn’t break a smile at her friendly chatter, and he didn’t answer her question either. So, she decided to try a different tactic after looking over secretly at Winnie.
“Sal and I are planning on going to a movie this weekend. If you have a girlfriend, we could do a double date. It’s more fun to go with another couple.”
Amo held out his credit card to tap it on the machine. “What’s the movie?”
Valerie had to quickly think what was out and what the big oaf would want to see, as well. “Mission Impossible.”
“What night are you wanting to go?”
Why couldn’t he just answer the fucking question with a yes or no? Now she had to think of the best night that he would actually want to go. Friday and Saturday would be busy, and Amo would have to work, so would Sal. “Sunday.”
“I have to work Sunda—”
